Hong Kong’s jobless rate rose to 3.9 per cent between July and September, with higher unemployment in social work and construction, authorities said on Monday.

Preliminary data released by the Census and Statistics Department showed the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points over the preceding three-month period.

This marks the highest rate since the three-month period between July and September 2022, when it was 4 per cent.

Unemployment in the food and beverage sector remained unchanged, while improvements were seen in the financing and health sectors, the department said.

The underemployment rate also remained unchanged at 1.6 per cent.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said some industries were undergoing transformation, inevitably putting pressure on the job market.